I must have mentioned it before. Xmas morning in these parts is all about cold turkey. And that’s quite a feat when duck was on the menu.
I’m up early though, because, abstemious as ever, I can’t just lie in bed. And as I write I’m sure the youngest members of the clan back home are already up and rooting in their stockings to unearth untold delights. And, I muse, children in Vikingland don’t get that pleasure. They had to see off the duck and rice-pud last evening before they could get at the goodies piled under the tree, ablaze with real candlelight (only the tree, I trust).
I wonder why Xmas starts too early here? It means today is a bit of an anti-climax, punctuated with visits to and from family and friends. At least in the UK the next day offers the best shopping of the year. Here normal life is cancelled.
I can report however that we gave our local 18-month-old (amongst other things) a pair of maracas. Some gifts have to be taken to bed – ready for an early start! And by now she will have put them to good effect, encouraging the whole family at short range to continue the party. Attagirl!
See what happens if you don’t come up to scratch!
Boadicea's Chariot 
Maracas Xmas morning! My four year old is up, gazing at the tree and a stocking full of small prezzies. He knows Santa has been. He now awaits the clear skies of morning – we are almost there! Have a good day.
And a merry Christmas morn to you two too 😕
I recall holidaying with friends long long ago where Christmas
‘lunch’dinner was served the night before and the prezzies opened, when in Rome…I prefer the Christmas morning / day thing.
Yesterday I was able to dash around the shops and buy my last 2 gifts (ja, only 2, I’m improving.) Then last night once the children were off to bed the last of the wrapping followed by the filling of the stockings and the placing of the gifts around the tree, never have I finished before midnight.
Happy Christmas one and all!
The annual Christmas sushi dinner in Sacramento was yesterday after which
the presents were opened following the German tradition. The actual dinner will
be tonight when I grill prime cuts of beef, roast potatoes in hot coals, and
grill some asparagus marinated in olive oil and garlic to be served with a cheese sauce.
Yum!